Electrical incinerator



ELECTRICAL INCINERATOR Filed Nov. 15, 1947 Maurene 0 Curry 1N VEN TOR.

ATTRNEY Patented Dec. 19, 1950 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL INCINERATOR Maurene D. Curry, Dallas, Tex.

Application November 13, 1947, Serial No. 785,618

1 claim. 1

I'his invention relates to electrical incinerators and it has particular reference to an incinerator for disposing of catamenial napkins.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a safe and expedient means for the complete destruction of used and expendable articles of a burnable nature, such as sanitary napkins Whose disposal has heretofore presented a problem. Careless disposal of these napkins, such as through the medium of the commode at home and in public rest rooms often results in impairmens of these facilities.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of pleasing appearance suitably insulated against dispersion ofvheat and adapted to be mounted on a wall and equipped with electric heating coils so designed and arranged within the cabinet as to quickly and effectively consume a sanitary napkin deposited therein. Moreover, through and by virtue of a clock mechanism controlled by the cabinet cover, the heating coils are energized for a predetermined period of time after the cover is closed sucient to insure destruction of the napkin by the heat generated by the coils.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reciprocable grate whose function is to disintegrate the charred residue of the napkins and to pass them through a reticulated support into a receptacle below the coils for periodic disposal.

With the foregoing objects in View, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of an incinerator cabinet embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section taken on line 2--2 on Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 4 4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the recprocable grate and operating handle, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view, partly in section showing the coil energizing switch and clock controlled operating means therefor.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral I denotes a cabinet having a hinged cover I I and lined with suitable thermal insulating material I2.

Supported on brackets I3 affixed to the inner wall surfaces of the cabinet approximately midway between the top and bottom of the cabinet is a foraminous rack I4 and immediately above this rack is an electric coil I whose convolutions extend transversely across the rack and vertically at the sides and ends to denne an enclosure for a napkin deposited in the cabinet. In this manner the napkin Will be subjected to the heat of the coils at each end, sides and bottom to speed its destruction.

To control'or predetermine the energized periods of the heating coil, a clock mechanism of conventional design is enclosed in a housing I6 mounted in one end of the cabinet IU and which includes a mainspring Il (Fig. 6). Energy is stored in the mainspring I'! through the medium of a link I8, the latter being pivoted at a at its upper end to the cover II and at its lower end to one end of a lever I9 by means of a pin 2li which latter travels in an arcuate slot 2| in one side of the housing I6. A ratchet arm 22 is actuated by the lever I9 on a ratchet wheel 23 which winds the spring to store therein suicient energy to cause an eccentric disc 24 to make one complete revolution. The disc 24 is driven by a small gear 25 which enmeshes a larger gear 26, the latter being driven by the clock mechanism through the usual escapement control, not shown. A slot b in the lever I9 receives a stationary pin c to restrict lateral displacement of the lever but permitting longitudinal movement to change the position of the ratchet arm 22 in relation to the ratchet wheel 23.

The eccentric disc or cam wheel 24 bears on a leaf spring contact 2i and its normal position is as shown in Figures 2 and G, i. e., depressing the contact 2d. In turn, the contact 2i depresses a pin 28 which is normally held in raised position by a coil spring 29 bearing against a stop 3c, thus separating the contact 3l, on the lower end of pin 2t from a spring contact 32, which opens the 'circuit to the coils I5.

Raising of the cover I I of the cabinet, as stated, stores suiiicient energy in the clock mainspring Il to cause the disc 24 to make one complete revolution which is calculated to allow sufficient time for heat of the coil I5 to completely consume the napkin deposited into: the cabinet, or to reduce it to a charred mass preparatory to its being passed through the grid I4 into a refuse receptacle 33, the latter being slidable through an opening in one end of the cabinet and secured by a key lock 34.

in order to disintegrate the charred residue of a napkin burned in the cabinet, a grate is arranged in the latter to overlie the grid or foraminous rack I4,1which consists of a rectangular wire frame 35, having spaced, transverse bars 3%. The grate 35 is reciprocable longitudinally in the cabinet as by a lever 3l, pivotally attached mid- Way between its ends and extending through an opening in the front Wall of the cabinet and in which it is pivoted at 38 (Fig. 5). By reciprocating the lever 3l, the grate 35 is agitated to break up the charred residue on the rack I4, causing it to pass into the receptacle 33 for ultimate disposal.

During periods When the coil I5 is energized, it is desirable to influence sufcient yoxygenthrough the cabinetto stimulate ooinbustion'therein The heat generated in the cabinet Will cause air to enter the latter through apertures 39 in its bottom and products of combustion will emerge from the cabinet through a ue connection 40 vin one end thereof, to which is attached a flue extending to a suitable outlet,

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modication and such modication as may be construed to fall within the sco-pe and vmeaning of the ,appended claim is also .considered rto `be within the spirit and intent .o-f the invention.

What is claimed is:

In an electric incinerator the combination .comprising an insulated cabinet having a ,hinged cover., a orarninous .rack .removably disposed 'longitudinally in .said cabinet, .an electric circuit, ,la heating coil insaid -circuit whose Aconvolutions transversely overlie said rack and are disposed vertically at the ends and sides thereof to enclose an article for incineration, a switch in said circuit, a clock spring and winding gear train, ratchet means adapted to be operated by the opening and closing action of the cover of said cabinet to wind said spring, an arm p-ivotally connected between said cover and ratchet means for actuating the latter, a cam rotated by said gear -traiin to aetuate .said switch to 'energize `and de- `energize 'said circuit, a `reciproca-.ble ygrate overlying said foraminous rack, means exteriorly of -said cabinet for actuating said grate and means ,in lsaidcabinet below said rack for receiving the residue of charred articles passing through said rack.

MAURENE D. CURRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rfi-le of .this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,639,258 Cohen .Aug.. 16, 1927 1,127,002 Weaver Sept. A3, .1929 2,"01QA6'O McKinley .Aug f5, 1935 2,245,762 De Stefani et al. June ll'l, 194.1 

